Today was an off day. I felt strangely anxious all day for really no apparent reason. The day started off nicely with an easy three mile run but as it progressed I just got that weird feeling in my stomach and felt general anxiety. This isn’t really like me and I’m not sure what was causing it.
One of the things I felt anxiety about was this blog. And the future of it. And what I really want it to be. Lately, I’ve felt more burdened by it than inspired and that’s not how I want it to be. Also, I’ve kind of been neglecting Bakin’ and Eggs and I really want to get back to my normal posting schedule with my food blog.
Every time I receive positive feedback that readers are enjoying the blog and being inspired and motivated by it I feel like I made the right decision to launch this blog. But then sometimes I feel like I’m just one in a million and that there are so many blogs just like mine out there and why am I stressing myself out for something that’s just not that special?
Maybe this isn’t something that I should share with you guys but I really want you to know how I’m feeling. And how I’m feeling is kind of tired and overwhelmed. But fitness and nutrition are truly my passions and I love sharing that passion with you.
I’m not giving up but I am giving serious thought to the future of this blog and what I want it to be.
Enough serious talk…
Today became infinitely better when I made it to Y2 for ashtanga. I was so close to skipping out on ashtanga tonight for a few reasons. I’m just not good at it, we were in the middle of a severe thunder storm and I had a cake to bake for my mother in law’s birthday. But all I could think about all day was being on my yoga mat and I didn’t want to give up on it because I knew I would regret not practicing. I braved the terrible road conditions and made my way to the studio. Traffic was horrendous and I was 15 minutes late but my whole day melted away when I unrolled my mat and started my sun salutations. I remain infinitely grateful for my yoga studio, my yoga practice and the patience and encouragement of my teacher.
And that’s that.
Wow. Can’t believe I’ve made it this far in the post with no photos. Breakfast was unpictured banana oats topped with peanut butter and Crofter’s. Pretty much heaven in a bowl. Lunch was a pizza and Pinkberry party at work.
The pizza was from Hawthorne’s. I had a piece of mushroom and onion that was nothing to write home again and another piece of white pizza that was super delicious!
And Pinkberry! They just opened in Charlotte last week! I had plain with granola, cinnamon toast crunch, strawberries, mango and blueberries.
We had a late dinner when I got home from yoga. Leftover adobo pork tacos and black beans and rice from last night’s dinner.
So good!
How do you deal with days you’re feeling off? I generally find that exercise helps more than anything.
I just wanted to leave a quick comment that I really appreciate your blog and am encouraged by it.I haven’t been reading it for long but it is one of my new favorites. I read Kath Eats Real Food also and I just love yours and hers. They are both inspiring for healthy eating and exercise. We will all understand if you’re too busy/overwhelmed to post but I just wanted to say how happy I am to have found it. 🙂
Blessings!
I stumbled across your blog about a month ago and it has become one of my favorite food blogs. I completely understand the feeling of a blog becoming a burden/overwhelming accompanied with a weird sense of pressure. For me, this pressure is self-induced! Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog!!! You are in my top 5 foodie blog list!
Hi Jen – I too truly enjoy reading your blog. Maybe you could do weekly posts rather than daily. That way you could have a life and enjoy your blog rather than feeling like a slave to it? I’ve noticed that the more popular blogs out there are weekly or only a couple of days a week – Fly Through Our Window, Pioneer Woman, Mile Markers.
Have a great day and relax!
I love reading your blog, Jen! It’s always such a great place for inspiration on balancing real life with health & fitness! I know how hard it can be to have time to post though… Good luck in figuring out where to take it. I know it will be great!
I can totally relate to the burn out & if it’s become something you no longer enjoy and has become more of a burden then I would say that it’s time to re-evaluate. Life is too short to not be doing what you enjoy (older person wisdom inserted here). That being said, I have to say that I’ve taken many things from your blog. I’ve been inspired by your recent job change (for my own personal reasons), enjoyed that you are a true southern girl, & used a lot of recipies I’ve found here (rosemary chicken, overnight oats, & I’ve got a new appreciation for Crofter’s & almond butter in my oatmeal in the morning). So, whatever you decide I’m sure will be the right choice, but I peruse a lot of food blogs/healthy living blogs & I can homestly say that I get more out of yours than most.
I can most certainly see how your internal pressures for this blog would stress you out especially with your new employment and the time commitment for your yoga and marathon training. I think that the regular followers of this blog have a pretty good idea who Jennifer is by now. I love reading PBR because it keeps my filled in on you. Perhaps you could slim down the content on the everyday regulars (oats, chobani, yoga) which would decrease the daily or every other day blogging. This would give you time to discuss the extraordinary meals and workout sessions that make your week special/different without that stress in your tummy to tell us everything. Food for thought. Lots of support in whatever direction you are heading.
Hi! I also stumbled across your blog (from the Nest) about a month ago and love it! Just thought I’d send you some positive feedback! 🙂
I don’t want this to come off the wrong way, Jen, but it seems to me that acknowledging a source of anxiety in your life (this blog) yet continuing to participate in it is sort of against the blog itself (a healthy living blog).
I love reading your blog! It’s really been motivating to me since I’m trying to lose weight and revamp my eating habits.
That being said, you need to take care of you. If this blog is what is causing you stress then cut back on your postings, take a break, or just focus only on the cooking blog. I promise nobody will hate you for it 🙂
Good luck!
I only read 3 healthy living/food blogs. yours is one of them. i really do enjoy reading about your running and workout routines. could you not combine the blogs again. have a tab at the top of this one for recipes, etc? healthy living is about food and exercise, why separate the two? i think you could touch on both subjects and feel satisfied with both without being overloaded and burdened by it. i hope you find some relief with this issue! thanks again for taking the time out of your day to write about your exercising, etc. so that people like me can read it!
This blog has encouraged me to read other healthy living blogs. I’m having an off day today too, so I know how you feel. Maybe you could back off of posting so frequently so that you have more time for Bakin’ and Eggs? Hope you’re able to come to a solution that works for you!
I just wanted to tell you that I found your blog through Kath Eats and really enjoying reading it. I love your food ideas and your healthy living attitude. I also have a gorgeous 3 year old golden retriever. I hope you dont stop the blog.
Hello,
I just wanted to leave a note to let you know how much I have enjoyed reading your blog. I’m always inspired by your energy level and your ability to make healthy, delicious food choices on a daily basis. I’m the mom of a toddler and after a stressful day, I used to have a tendency to make poor dinner choices after eating healthy food the rest of the day. Your examples of menu plans have really helped me to get past my bad habits by creating menus and making meal preparations in advance. Even if you decide you are unable to post every day, I hope you continue making posts at least once or twice a week because reading your blog is something I always look forward to. Ultimately you have to decide what is best for you, but just know that the time and effort you put into your blog is greatly appreciated by others trying to live a healthier lifestyle!
Here’s an idea: You could dictate all of your blog entries and make Brandon do the updating, uploading, etc. Of course you’d have to change the name to Peanut Butter Sitter or Peanut Butter TV Watcher…
I love your blog!!! I look forward to reading your posts! I have gotten so many great ideas from you. You have inspired me in so many ways. Overnight oats are now my favorite thing on Earth thanks to you. I have convinced Lee to try them. Tomorrow will be his first experience and I can’t wait to hear what he thinks about them. Please continue to post!!!!!
Ashley – I’m so sorry for the late response. What did Lee think about the overnight oats? Brandon tried them for the first time a few weeks ago and has been requesting them for breakfast lately. I love it!
Thank you for the encouragement on the blog. Sometimes I just really struggle with originality and feeling like I contribute value when there are so many other great blogs just like this one out there. It’s so nice to hear that I have given you ideas and inspiration.